Tamil Dalit Literature – The Challenge and the Response

The IFP and SASY–SIGN (Social Awareness Society for Youths, Dalit Resource Organization, Tindivanam) is jointly organizing this seminar on Contemporary Tamil Language , an evolving one, in 3 continents and spoken in several nations with a rich and profound literature refracting the surrounding socio-cultural milieu. Due to the sensitivity of this milieu, and an assortment of PhD theses having explored its realms, no Indian or foreign academic Institution has ever focused on this dynamic field of research with a well defined research program.

The Tamil Programme of the French Institute of Pondicherry tries to fill this void through its research on Contemporary Tamil Language, Literature and Culture.

The seminar aims to bring together around 10-15 Dalit writers from different parts of Tamil Nadu in order to record the development of Tamil Dalit literature through the testimonies of these writers.